Episode 145 That’s What You’re Going With?
That’s What You’re Going With?
Arisanna takes in the velvet-lined ceiling as the bed sways beneath her.
Well. This is new.
She glances at Cerian beside her, and he looks more than a little confused.
At least he’s here. Whether he fell asleep on purpose or by accident, he’s getting the sleep he needs.
“Hey,” she says softly, and he glances her way.
“Hey.”
“Thank you for sleeping.”
“Father talked me into it.”
She stares at him.
He had conversations she has no memory of?
Stars above. She fell asleep on his lap. And he talked to his father with her like that? And now what? Are they curled up together in front of everyone? She has vague memories of him lying down and drawing her close.
“You have this adorable wide-eyed look about you,” he whispers. “What are you thinking?”
She laughs nervously. “Just being me.”
He rolls toward her, and his smile grows as he tucks her hair behind her ear. “Just being you?”
“We’re sleeping together on that bed, aren’t we?”
He runs a thumb over her ear. “We are.”
“I’m just going to be mortified now.”
“I’m pretty sure they know we sleep together every night.”
“Not helping.”
He shrugs. “You’re the one with beds on trains. Unless this is the heartlanding being the heartlanding.”
“There may be beds on some of our trains,” she mumbles. “For sleeping on long trips.”
“Sleeping?” His eyes are full of mirth when he looks at her, and she struggles not to smile as she glances away.
“I assumed so. Until this moment.”
“The real question,” he says as he plays with her hair some more, “is why did we wake up here?”
She studies the railcar more closely. It’s just a regular sleeping car.
It seems doubtful the heartlanding intended them to sleep, though.
“Maybe this is the heartlanding’s way of letting us know we don’t have to leave the train this time.”
Which is a relief. The last thing she feels like doing is going on an adventure. They have adventure enough awaiting them in the real world. They don’t need it here, too.
“That’s what you’re going with?” Cerian asks, and she smiles.
“Why do you think we’re here?”
“I have no idea.” His mouth twitches as if he’s struggling not to smile, and before she can respond, he draws her into a slow kiss.
“Actually,” he says against her lips, “I believe it’s so we can do this.
” He guides her toward him with her back to his chest. “Unless you need something else to happen right now.”
His lips graze her neck, and briefly, she considers saying yes.
But curling up with him like this is just what she needs after the day they had. He floods her with his warmth, and she burrows against him as a soft sigh slips past her lips.
“I’m going to take that sigh as evidence you agree,” he says.
“Completely. This must be exactly what the heartlanding had in mind.”
His hand is warm where he rests it on her leg below the slit in her leather dress, and a smile tugs at her lips.
“My mother made me give Corivos a full report when he arrived,” Cerian says quietly.
Stars above. She slept on Cerian’s lap while his father’s First among warriors spoke with him? Perhaps they can stay here in the heartlanding indefinitely.
“It seems my mother expects more from me now,” he whispers.
“Well, after that speech you gave...”
“I may be having some regrets.”
Arisanna rolls to her back so she can see his face. He seems so unsure of himself. It tugs at her heart.
“I believe in you.” She tucks his hair behind his ear and lets her fingers gently graze its pointed tip. Memories of the first time she played with his ears flood her. His birthday. The night they first kissed.
How far they’ve come since then. How much of his heart he’s trusted her with.
“Come here.” She sits up and guides his head into her lap, and he doesn’t resist. “Just relax, my elven prince.”
She slides her fingers along his ears with a feathery touch, avoiding the more sensitive areas. She’s learned a few things about those pointed ears of his since he first let her touch them.
Like the fact that starting beneath the tips might send him shooting off the bed. He needs to work up to that.
She tries not to think about how they’re curled up together on a tiny bed in the real world as people come and go around them. It’s not as if anyone knows what they’re doing in the heartlanding.
“I like this,” he murmurs as he melts at her touch, and she smiles down at him.
“I was impressed with you today,” she says. “The way you stood in that doorway, ready to face whatever danger approached.”
“I was terrified.”
“I know. I felt your heart racing. But you were brave.”
“I had to be. Because I have you. You make me strong, Sanna.”
Before he can say anything else, she runs her thumbs over the tips of his ears and down the sensitive sides, and he groans.
He’s growing warmer.
“Too much?” she whispers.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether you’re trying to set me on fire.”
“I thought we were just snuggling.” A smile threatens her, and he cracks his eyes open.
“The line between snuggling and doing other things feels a little blurry at the moment.”
“Let’s follow this wherever it leads, my elven prince. And enjoy being together in the quiet moments.”
His eyes slide shut again. “I like quiet moments.”
“I know you do.” She leans down to press her lips to his before returning her attention to his ears. “I like the quiet moments, too.”
“I miss coffee,” Elowyn murmurs with a yawn as her chamber at Windhaven comes into focus.
“Good morning to you, too, love.”
Elowyn chuckles as she threads her fingers with Rominy’s where his arm drapes over her. “I can’t miss you because we were just together.”
Wrapped up in each other’s arms, talking for what felt like hours about all sorts of things.
After she helped him relax in the most perfect way, that is.
He still seems pretty relaxed. He’s been taking care of her so much lately. It felt good to take care of him for a change. To give him one of his perfect days, for a few hours, at least.
“Do you think your parents found them yet?” Rominy asks quietly.
“If Pera used his magic to sweep the woods, it seems likely. Hold on to that, all right, my love?”
“I’ll do my best. How are you feeling?”
“I want to tell you I feel quite recovered.”
“Well, that was a creative answer.” He kisses her neck, and she sighs.
“I’m a little tired after yesterday. I’m determined not to be a lump today, though.”
“A lump?” He tickles her, and she writhes away from him as she attempts not to laugh.
He probably could overpower her this time. She feels so weak.
The thought is oddly exhilarating.
“I believe you’re stronger than I am now.” She squirms under his relentless tickling, and he freezes.
“Was that an invitation?” His voice is adorably hoarse, and she laughs.
“If I say yes, what are you planning to do?”
“Curse that healer who told me not to set you on fire.”
She sighs, and he drops back to the bed at her side.
“We should get up, anyway,” she says. “Check on Tharios. Check in with Taliel. Perhaps she’s heard from my parents.”
“When you say get up—”
“I can probably walk a little.” She turns to see his eyes. He looks quite skeptical. “Perhaps I can hobble? At least let me try before you carry me from room to room?”
“Why don’t we start by getting dressed and see how you feel after that?”
Before she can respond, there’s a knock at the door, and she sits up. The room spins, but she pushes through. “Who is it?” she calls.
“Healer Cadowyn, come to check on my patient.”
“Pretend we’re not here,” she whispers to Rominy, who is pulling on his trousers.
“You already talked to him through the door. Besides, he has life magic, right? I doubt we could hide from him even if we wanted to. Which I don’t because you’re still recovering, El. Just let the healer check you over. Please.”
She groans and flops back to the bed. “Fine. For you.”
“Thank you, love.” He pulls his shirt over his head before leaning down to kiss her and hurrying to the door.
Healer Cadowyn smiles as he approaches, shaking his head. “You know, the two of you remind me of another couple I healed many years ago. She was quite ornery about it while he insisted she let me examine her.”
Before Elowyn can decide if she wants to translate that into Nunian or not, Rominy says, “If he’s comparing me to your father, I’ll take that as the highest compliment.”
“Yes, but what does that say about me?” Elowyn asks in Nunian.
“You did inherit your mother’s spirit.” Rominy shrugs.
Healer Cadowyn smiles down at Elowyn before focusing on whatever magic he’s working to see her insides. “I hold both your parents in the highest regard, so you should take my words for the compliment they are despite your mother being the worst sort of patient.”
“Then thank you. I think.” Elowyn lies still and lets him examine her.
Healer Cadowyn must understand some Nunian.
“How do you feel?” he asks.
She glances at Rominy, who gazes down at her with his arms crossed, and she sighs. He probably understood that. “I’m a little tired.”
“I’m not surprised after the day you endured yesterday. The good news is, I spoke with your grandmother, and we agreed that you are young and strong, and with all the upheaval here at Windhaven, it would be wise to speed up your healing.”
A smile takes over her face before she can stop it. “Really? Tharios said slower is better.”
“Normally, I would agree that the natural healing process is the safest approach, but these are not normal times.”
“Fill me in, El?” Rominy says. “I’m having a hard time following.”
She quickly translates, and Rominy doesn’t look nearly as excited as she is.
“Is it safe?” he manages in Elvish.
“I would do small infusions of life magic throughout the day to encourage your body to accelerate its healing in a safe and controlled manner.”
Elowyn translates for Rominy and looks at him hopefully.
Not that she needs his permission, does she? Not in Lostariel. Perhaps Nunia is different.
Regardless, she cares what he thinks.
“As long as it’s safe, I’m eager to see you feeling better,” he says, and this time, he looks less worried.
“Yes,” she says to Healer Cadowyn. “Can we start now?”
The healer chuckles before nodding. “We can, indeed. I must warn you that this won’t be pleasant, and you may wish to never see me again before we’re done.
But if all goes well, you should be on your feet by tomorrow and ready to ease back into your fire magic soon after that.
I’ll wait while you translate, my princess. ”
She takes a deep breath before turning to Rominy. “He says it won’t be pleasant, but I should be up and about by tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do this, El.”
“I want to. I need to. You’ve helped me learn to just exist, and I’m so grateful. But it’s time for me to be me again. I’m not afraid of pain.”
“P-pain? I’m not sure—”
“You don’t have to watch,” she says.
“Well, I’m not going anywhere if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
That’s a relief. She might put on a brave face, but the thought of doing this without him leaves her a little panicked inside.
“Can I hold her hand?” Rominy asks in Elvish.
“Of course,” Healer Cadowyn says, and Rominy lowers himself to the bed and takes her hand.
“I’m ready,” Elowyn says.
Rominy nudges her face toward him. “Focus on me, love.”
Breathing out slowly, she nods as Healer Cadowyn begins.
Fire burns through her veins, and it takes a moment for her to realize the scream filling the room...is coming from her.